Res No 026-25-16318RESOLUTION NO.026-25-16318
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,
FLORIDA,SUPPORTING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MAYOR
DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA’S VETO OF RESOLUTION NO.
R-370-25 AND THE CONTINUED PRACTICE OF ADDING
FLUORIDE TO THE COUNTY’S WATER SUPPLY;
PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL,CORRECTIONS,AND
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS,on April 1,2025,the Miami-Dade County (the “County”)Board of County
Commissioners adopted Resolution No.R-370-25 (the “County Resolution”)directing the Water
and Sewer Department (“WASD”)to discontinue adding fluoride to the County’s water supply “as
expeditiously as possible but not later than 30 days”;and
WHEREAS,the County Resolution also directs the County mayor to create and implement
a Countywide public service campaign focused on dental hygiene and alternate sources of fluoride
available in dental health products;and
WHEREAS,since 1958,the County has added fluoride to our water,following all local,
state,and federal standards,and the recommendations of major public health and medical
organizations,including the U.S.Public Health Service and the American Dental Association,
which recognize fluoridating water at low levels as a safe and effective way to protect dental
health;and
WHEREAS,on April 11,2025,County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava vetoed the County
Resolution,citing the need to protect sound public health policy and prevent unnecessary harm to
the community;and
WHEREAS,the County Mayor’s veto message noted that the County Resolution was
adopted following a hasty process that did not include a committee hearing—where a full
presentation of both sides of the issue could have been made—and was only discussed on the day
of the vote,without adequate public input on an issue that will impact every Miami-Dade County
resident;and
WHEREAS,it is the opinion of the City of South Miami (the “City”)Commission that the
County Resolution was passed despite scientific consensus that water fluoridation is both safe and
necessary to protect against preventable tooth decay;and
WHEREAS,additionally,the City Commission believes it is vital that the public have an
ample opportunity to understand and provide input on a decision that will affect the lives of every
resident in Miami-Dade County,both now and in the future;and
WHEREAS,the City Commission desires to support the County Mayor’s veto of the
County Resolution and the continued practice of adding fluoride to the County’s water supply;and
Page 1 of 2
Res.No.026-25-16318
WHEREAS,the City Commission finds that this Resolution is in the best interest and
welfare of the City.
NOW THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA:
Section 1.Recitals.The above-stated recitals are true and correct and are incorporated
herein by this reference.
Section 2.Support of Mayor’s Veto.The City Commission hereby urges the County
Commission to sustain the County Mayor’s veto and to preserve the continued practice of adding
fluoride to the County’s water supply.
Section 3.Transmittal.The City Clerk is directed to transmit a copy of this
Resolution to the Board of County Commissioners.
Section 4.Corrections.Conforming language or technical scrivener-type corrections
may be made by the City Attorney for any conforming amendments to be incorporated into the
final resolution for signature.
Section 5.Effective Date.This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon
adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 15th day of April.2025.
ATTEST:AtowCITYCL^RK.\\
READ ANITAPPROVED AS TO FORM,
LANGUAGE,LEGALITY,AND
EXECUTION THEREOF:
WEfSS SEROTA ^LFMAN COLE
&BIERMAN,P.L.
CITY ATTORNEY
APPRX^YE1W≤ZA
(MAYOR z7
COMMISSION VOTE:4-0
Mayor Javier Fernandez:Yea
Vice Mayor Brian Corey:Yea
Commissioner Lisa Bonich:Yea
Commissioner Steve Calle:Yea
Commissioner Danny Rodriguez:Absent
Page 2 of 2
Agenda Item No:Fa.
City Commission Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: April 15, 2025
Submitted by: Daniela Cimo
Submitting Department: City Attorney
Item Type: Resolution
Agenda Section:
Subject:
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA,
SUPPORTING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY MAYOR DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA’S VETO OF RESOLUTION NO.
R-370-25 AND THE CONTINUED PRACTICE OF ADDING FLUORIDE TO THE COUNTY’S WATER SUPPLY;
PROVIDING FOR TRANSMITTAL, CORRECTIONS, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. 3/5 (MAYOR FERNÁNDEZ)
Suggested Action:
Attachments:
4AY4007-CA Memo-Add On-Fluoride Resolution.DOCX
4AY3830-Resolution-Fluoride-2025-04-15.DOCX
MDC-BCC-R-370-25.pdf
2025-04-11-fluoride-removal-veto-message.pdf
1
CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO:The Honorable Mayor, Vice Mayor, and Members of the City Commission
FROM:Lillian Arango and Tony Recio, City Attorneys
CC:Genaro “Chip” Iglesias
DATE:April 15, 2025 City Commission Meeting
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH
MIAMI,FLORIDA,SUPPORTINGMIAMI-DADECOUNTYMAYORDANIELLALEVINE
CAVA’S VETO OFRESOLUTIONNO.R-370-25ANDTHE CONTINUEDPRACTICEOF
ADDING FLUORIDE TO THE COUNTY’S WATER SUPPLY; PROVIDING FOR
TRANSMITTAL,CORRECTIONS,ANDANEFFECTIVEDATE.
______________________________________________________________________________
The accompanying Resolution was prepared and placed on the agenda at the request of Mayor
Fernandez.
2
SouthTMiami
THE CITY OF PLEASANT LIVING
MEMORANDUM
Agenda Item No. 11(A)(10)
TO: Honorable Chairman Anthony Rodriguez DATE:
and Members, Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Geri Bonzon -Keenan SUBJECT:
County Attorney
April 1, 2025
Resolution directing the Miami-Dade
Wate r and Sewer Department to
discontinue adding fluoride to the
County’s water supply as expeditiously as
possible but not later than 30 days;
directing the County Mayor to create and
implement a Countywide public service
campaign focused on dental hygiene and
alternate sources of fluoride available in
dental health products; directing the
County Mayo r to identify and include
$150,000.00 of legally available funds in
the County Mayor’s proposed Fiscal Year
2025-26 County budget in orde r to carry
out such public service campaign;
directing the County Mayor to research
any federal or state grants that may be
available to use fo r such public service
campaign and delegating authority to the
County Mayo r to apply fo r such grants;
and directing the County Mayo r to provide
a written report to the Board on the status
of the grant research within 60 days
The accompanying resolution was prepared and placed on the agenda at the req uest of Prime Sponsor
Commissioner Roberto J. Gonzalez .
_______________________________
Geri Bonzon -Keenan
County Attorney
GBK/uw
MDC001 5
Geri Bonzon-Keenan
County Attorney
MEMORANDUM
(Revised)
TO: DATE: Honorable Chairman Anthony Rodriguez
and Members, Board of County Commissioners
: SUBJECT: Agenda Item No. 11(A)(10)
Please note any items checked.
_______
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“3-Day Rule” for committees applicable if raised
6 weeks required between first reading and public hearing
4 weeks notification to municipal officials required prior to public
hearing
Decreases revenues or increases expenditures without balancing budget
Budget required
Statement of fiscal impact required
Statement of social equity required
Ordinance creating a new board requires detailed County Mayor’s
report for public hearing
No committee review
Applicable legislation requires more than a majority vote (i.e., 2/3’s
present ____, 2/3 membership ____, 3/5’s ____, unanimous ____,
majority plus one ____, CDMP 7 vote requirement per 2-116.1(3)(h) or
(4)(c) ____, CDMP 2/3 vote requirement per 2-116.1(3) (h) or (4)(c)
____, CDMP 9 vote requirement per 2-116.1(4)(c) (2) _____) to approve
Current information regarding funding source, index code and available
balance, and available capacity (if debt is contemplated) required
FROM:
_______
Geri Bonzon-Keenan
County Attorney
April 1, 2025
MDC002 6
County Attorney
Approved Mayor Agenda Item No. 11(A)(10)
4-1-25Veto __________
Override __________
RESOLUTION NO. ________________________
RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE MIAMI -DADE WATER AND
SEWER DEPARTMENT TO DISCONTINUE ADDING
FLUORIDE TO THE COUNTY’S WATER SUPPLY AS
EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE BUT NOT LATER THAN 30
DAYS; DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY
MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO CREATE AND IMPLEMENT A
COUNTYWIDE PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON
DENTAL HYGIENE AND ALTERNATE SOURCES OF
FLUORIDE AVAILABLE IN DENTAL HEALTH PRODUCTS;
DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR TO IDENTIFY AND
INCLUDE $150,000.00 OF LEGALLY AVAILABLE FUNDS IN
THE COUNTY MAYOR’S PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2025-26
COUNTY BUDGET IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT SUCH
PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGN ; DIRECTING THE COUNTY
MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO RESEARCH
ANY FEDERAL OR STATE GRANTS THAT MAY BE
AVAILABLE TO USE FOR SUCH PUBLIC SERVICE
CAMPAIGN AND DELEGATING AUTHORITY TO THE
COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO
APPLY FOR SUCH GRANTS; AND DIRECTING THE
COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR’S DESIGNEE TO
PROVIDE A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE BOARD ON THE
STATUS OF THE GRANT RESEARCH WITHIN 60 DAYS
WHEREAS, the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (“WASD”) provides drinking
water to its retail and wholesale customers throughout Miami-Dade County (the “County”); and
WHEREAS, raw water has a natural fluoride level of approximately 0.2 parts per million
(“ppm”); and
WHEREAS, the practice of adding additional fluoride to water, known as community
water fluoridation, dates back to 1945, prior to the mass market availability of dental hygiene
products containing fluoride, such as toothpaste and mouthwash; and
MDC003 7
Agenda Item No. 11(A)(10)
Page No. 2
WHEREAS, in 1956, the world’s first fluoride toothpaste, Crest, began to be sold to the
public in the United States; and
WHEREAS, since 1958, in an effort to optimize dental health, WASD and its predecessor
utilities have been adjusting the fluoride content in the County’s water supply to 0.7 ppm by adding
fluorosilicic acid to the water that is produced at the Alexander Orr Water Treatment Plant, the
Hialeah Water Treatment Plant and the John E. Preston Water Treatment Plant ; and
WHEREAS, in 1975, the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) proposed its first
regulations of fluoride in water recommending a range of 1.4 to 2.4 ppm, twice the range
recommended by the United States Public Health Service of 0.7 to 1.2 ppm; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, EPA lowered its recommended level for fluoride in drinking water
to 0.7 ppm; and
WHEREAS, on its website, the American Dental Association (“ADA”) “endorses the
fluoridation of community water supplies as safe, effective and necessary in preventing tooth
decay” and “advocates for the fluoridation of public water supplies as an effective way to prevent
tooth decay and promote oral health”; and
WHEREAS, the ADA recommends community water fluoridation at a level of 0 .7 ppm;
and
WHEREAS, the ADA receives funding from dental product manufacturers, including
those whose products contain fluoride, who are applying to the ADA for its Seal of Acceptan ce
for their products; and
WHEREAS, dental product manufacturers pay a one -time fee of $15,000.00 per product
application and an annual fee of $3,500.00 to maintain the ADA’s Seal of Acceptance for their
product; and
MDC004 8
Agenda Item No. 11(A)(10)
Page No. 3
WHEREAS, on its website, the American Academy of Pediatrics (“AAP”) “continues to
recommend children use age-appropriate amounts of fluoride toothpaste and drink optimally
fluoridated water to protect their teeth; and
WHEREAS, the AAP receives grant funding “from the American Dental Association
Foundation to train pediatricians in each state Chapter about oral health and improve
communications between the medical and dental homes;” and
WHEREAS, WASD spends approximately $830,000.00 per year on the fluorosilicic acid
that is used in the fluoridation process for the County’s water supply; and
WHEREAS, according to the manufacturer of the fluorosilicic acid used in the County’s
water treatment process, fluorosilicic acid may be corrosive to metal piping; and
WHEREAS, WASD spends approximately $40,000.00 per year on maintenance and
repair costs for the fluoride injections system at the County’s plants ; and
WHEREAS, according to the World Health Organization , fluorosilicic acid is corrosive
to human eyes and skin and can lead to respiratory issues; and
WHEREAS, Rule 62-555.325(2)(e) of the Florida Administrative Code requires that “[a]t
each drinking water treatment plant with fluoridation facilities, the supplier of water shall provide
appropriate safety or protective equipment;” and
WHEREAS, residents and citizens in the County as well as other parts of the world have
expressed concerns about the safety of adding fluoride to the water supply; and
WHEREAS, in September 2024, a judge sitting in the U nited States District Court for the
Northern District of California issued a Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law in Food & Water
Watch, Inc. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Case No. 17-cv-02162-EMC, that
held that the plaintiffs in the case had proven by a preponderance of the evidence that water
MDC005 9
Agenda Item No. 11(A)(10)
Page No. 4
fluoridation at the level of 0.7 ppm presents “an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the
environment, without consideration of costs or other non -risk factors” and ordered EPA to initiate
a rulemaking under the Amended Toxic Substances Control Act regarding regulation of fluoride
in drinking water; and
WHEREAS, on November 22, 2024, State of Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A.
Ladapo (the “Florida Surgeon General”) released a document entitled “Guidance for Community
Water Fluoridation” (the “Guidance”), which cites to several studies that have been conducted in
the United States, Mexico and Canada involving fluoride exposure to vulnerable populations; and
WHEREAS, the studies cited have found that prenatal fluoride exposure may be
associated with lower IQs, decreased child inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility, and
neurobehavioral problems in children; and
WHEREAS, at least one study conducted in Canada has found an association between
exposure to fluoridated water and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (“ADHD”) among
children and adolescents between the ages of six and seventeen; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology
Program published a report in August 2024 that concludes that : (1) some pregnant women and
children may be receiving more fluoride exposure than necessary due to the presence of fluoride
in, among other things, public water, water-added foods and beverages, and toothpaste and
mouthwash, and (2) “there is a moderate confidence in the scientific evidence that points to an
association between higher levels of fluoride consumption and lower IQs in children”; and
WHEREAS, in young children, excessive exposure to fluoride can cause fluoriosis, which
can result in discoloration of teeth; and
MDC006 10
Agenda Item No. 11(A)(10)
Page No. 5
WHEREAS, the Florida Surgeon General has recommended that, due to the
neuropsychiatric risk associated with fluoride exposure and the wide availability of alternative
sources of fluoride for dental health, water systems not fluoridate their community water supplies;
and
WHEREAS, in a social media post from November 2024, Robert F. Kennedy , Jr., the
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services , stated: “the Trump White House will
advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Fluoride is an industrial waste
associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and
thyroid disease”; and
WHEREAS, on March 4, 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis compared water fluoridation to
“forced medicine” and stated: “When you’re forcing it into the water supply, that’s not really
giving people the choice;” and
WHEREAS, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has expressed his
support for a statewide ban of fluoride in drinking water, stating: “We’re getting fluoride out of
water. Not only fluoride, but any chemicals that the government deems necessary to put in our
water. We don’t want that. We want parents to make those choices and decisions;” and
WHEREAS, on February 13, 2025, Florida Senator Keith L. Truenow filed Senate Bill
700, which, among other things, would bar public water systems from adding fluoride to its water
supplies; and
WHEREAS, in multiple decisions, the United States Supreme Court has held that the right
to refuse medical care is guaranteed by the Due Process Clause of the United States Constitution;
and
MDC007 11
Agenda Item No. 11(A)(10)
Page No. 6
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 381.026, Florida Statutes, the Florida Patient ’s Bill of
Rights and Responsibilities, prior to receiving medical treatment, an individual must be provided
with the right to informed consent, a risk/benefit analysis and the right to refuse medical treatment;
and
WHEREAS, although not being carried out by a health care facility or provider as that
term is defined in the Florida Patient’s Bill of Rights and Responsibilities , the inclusion of fluoride
in the drinking water amounts to a form of medical treatment for which individuals should be given
the basic rights set forth in the Bill of Rights; and
WHEREAS, the residents of the County do not have the ability to opt -out of fluoridated
water and should have a choice as to whether they want to use or ingest fluoridated water; and
WHEREAS, to the extent there is concern that, if fluoride is removed from the drinking
water in the County, certain residents may not have access to other forms of fluoridated dental
products and may, therefore, suffer from tooth decay and other dental health problems, the
following no-cost and low -cost dental health services are available to residents of the County:
Seals on Wheels Dental Program, Community Smiles, Jessie Trice Community Health System,
and Community Health of South Florida, Inc; and
WHEREAS, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,
Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Switzerland have all rejected the
practice of fluoridating drinking water; and
WHEREAS, only 3 percent of the population in Western Europe consumes fluoridated
water; and
WHEREAS, some of the countries above have adopted salt fluoridation as an alternative
to water fluoridation; and
MDC008 12
Agenda Item No. 11(A)(10)
Page No. 7
WHEREAS, the recommended fluoride level in water is generally higher than the
recommended fluoride level in salt; and
WHEREAS, people consume significantly more water than salt by volume, meaning that
the amount of fluoride ingested from water is higher even if the concentration of fluoride in salt is
higher; and
WHEREAS, on August 25, 2023, the City of Perry, Florida voted to remove additional
fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on February 13, 2024, Collier County, Florida voted to remove additional
fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on April 1, 2024, the City of Brooksville, Florida voted to remove additional
fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on September 3, 2024, the City of Sebring, Florida voted to remove
additional fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on October 8, 2024, the City of Live Oak, Florida voted to remove additional
fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on November 12, 2024, the City of Winter Haven, Florida voted to remove
additional fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on November 26, 2024, the City of Stuart, Florida voted to remove additional
fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on December 4, 2024, the City of Naples, Florida voted to remove additional
fluoride from its water supply; and
MDC009 13
Agenda Item No. 11(A)(10)
Page No. 8
WHEREAS, on December 11, 2024, the City of Miami Beach passed and adopted an
urging to the County to review the practice of fluoridating the public water supply in light of
concerns over efficacy and potential health risks; and
WHEREAS, on December 18, 2024, the City of Tavares, Florida voted to remove
additional fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on December 18, 2024, the City of Port Saint Lucie announced that it has
temporarily halted adding additional fluoride to its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on January 2, 2025, the City of Palm Bay voted not to resume adding
additional fluoride to its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on January 14, 2025, the City of Melbourne, Florida voted to remove
additional fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on January 15, 2025, the City of Immokalee, Florida voted to remove
additional fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on January 21, 2025, the City of Niceville, Florida voted to remove additional
fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on January 22, 2025, the City of Ormond Beach voted to remove additional
fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on January 24, 2025, the City of Fort Pierce announced that it was
immediately discontinuing the addition of fluoride to its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on February 4, 2025, Lee County, Florida voted to remove additional fluoride
from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on February 17, 2025, the City of Longwood, Florida voted to remove
additional fluoride from its water supply; and
MDC010 14
Agenda Item No. 11(A)(10)
Page No. 9
WHEREAS, on February 20, 2025, the City of Lake Mary, Florida voted to remove
additional fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on February 24, 2025, the City of Leesburg, Florida voted to permanently
halt the addition of fluoride to its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on February 24, 2025, the City of New Smyrna Beach, Florida voted to
remove additional fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on March 3, 2025, the City of Lakeland, Florida voted to remove additional
fluoride from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, on January 14, 2025, the City of Melbourne, Florida voted to remove fluoride
from its water supply; and
WHEREAS, starting as far back as November 5, 2013, this Board has heard presentations
from the public on the topic of fluoride in the drinking water; and
WHEREAS, on September 16, 2014, Ray Fauntroy made a presentation to this Board on
fluoride in drinking water and urged this Board to invite experts on the topic of water fluoridation
to present on the topic; and
WHEREAS, on March 11, 2025, the following experts made a presentation before this
Board’s Safety and Health Committee on the topic of fluoridation in drinking water : Florida
Surgeon General Dr. Joseph A. Ladapo, University of Florida Professor Dr. Ashley J. Malin,
Dentist Dr. Claire Stagg, and Dentist D r. Maya Assi,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that :
Section 1. The Board approves the foregoing recitals, which are incorporated herein
by reference.
MDC011 15
Agenda Item No. 11(A)(10)
Page No. 10
Section 2. This Board directs the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department to
discontinue adding fluoride to the County’s water supply as expeditiously as possible but not later
than 30 days.
Section 3. This Board directs the County Mayor to create and implement a countywide
public service campaign regarding dental hygiene, including information about sources of fluoride
other than the drinking water supply that can be used for dental health purposes.
Section 4. This Board directs the County Mayor to identify and include $150,000.00
of legally available funds in the County Mayor’s proposed Fiscal Y ear 2025-26 County budget in
order to carry out such public service campaign.
Section 5. This Board directs the County Mayor or County Mayor’s designee to
research available federal or state grant funding to use for the public service campaign and
delegates authority to the County Mayor or County Mayor’s designee to apply for such grants.
The Board also directs the County Mayor or County Mayor’s designee to prepare a written report
on the status of the grant research and applications within 60 days and place the completed report
on an agenda of this Board without Committee review in accordance with Rule 5.06(j).
The Prime Sponsor of the foregoing resolution is Commissioner Roberto J. Gonzalez.
It was offered by Commissioner , who moved its adoption. The motion
was seconded by Commissioner and upon being put to a vote, the vote
was as follows:
Anthony Rodriguez, Chairman
Kionne L. McGhee, Vice Chairman
Marleine Bastien Juan Carlos Bermudez
Kevin Marino Cabrera Sen. René García
Oliver G. Gilbert, III Roberto J. Gonzalez
Keon Hardemon Danielle Cohen Higgins
Eileen Higgins Raquel A. Regalado
Micky Steinberg
MDC012 16
Agenda Item No. 11(A)(10)
Page No. 11
The Chairperson thereupon declared this resolution duly passed and adopted this 1st day
of April, 2025. This resolution shall become effective upon the earlier of (1) 10 days after the
date of its adoption unless vetoed by the County Mayor, and if vetoed, shall become effective only
upon an override by this Board, or (2) approval by the County Mayor of this resolution and
the filing of this approval with the Clerk of the Board.
MIAMI -DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BY ITS BOARD OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
JUAN FERNANDEZ -BARQUIN , CLERK
By:________________________
Deputy Clerk
Approved by County Attorney as
to form and legal sufficiency. _______
Sarah E. Davis
MDC013 17
SEP
RECEIVED BY CLERKClerk of the Court & ComptrollerMiami-Dade County, FloridaFILED FOR RECORDCLERK OF THE BOARD10:36 am, 04/11/202518ClerkoftheBoardDateandTimeRecorderStampOFFICEOFTHEMAYORMIAMI-DADECOUNTY,FLORIDAVETOANDVETOMESSAGETo:From:HonorableChairmanAnthonyRodriguezandMembersoftheBoardofCountyCommissionersMiami-DadeCounty,FloridaDaniellaLevineCava,MayorMiami-DadeCounty,FloridaPursuanttotheauthorityvestedinmeundertheprovisionsofSection2.02(D)oftheMiami-DadeCountyHomeRuleCharter,IherebyvetoResolutionNo.R-370-25,whichwasadoptedasamendedattheApril1,2025,BoardofCountyCommissionersmeeting:RESOLUTIONDIRECTINGTHEMIAMI-DADEWATERANDSEWERDEPARTMENTTODISCONTINUEADDINGFLUORIDETOTHECOUNTY’SWATERSUPPLYASEXPEDITIOUSLYASPOSSIBLEBUTNOTLATERTHAN30DAYS;ANDDIRECTINGTHECOUNTYMAYORORCOUNTYMAYOR’SDESIGNEETOADVISECUSTOMERSOFTHEMIAMI-DADEWATERANDSEWERDEPARTMENTTHATFLUORIDEISBEINGREMOVEDFROMTHECOUNTY’SDRINKINGWATERTHROUGH:(1)INCLUSIONOFAMESSAGEONWATERBILLSFORTWOBILLINGCYCLES,(2)PLACEMENTOFAMESSAGEONTHEMIAMI-DADEWATERANDSEWERDEPARTMENT’SWEBSITE,AND(3)IFCONTRACTUALLYREQUIRED,SENDINGNOTICETOTHECOUNTY’SWHOLESALECUSTOMERSVETOMESSAGEOnApril1,2025,theBoardofCountyCommissioners(Board)adoptedasamended,ResolutionNo.R-370-25orderingthediscontinuationofaddingfluoridetotheCounty’swatersupplyasexpeditiouslyaspossible,butnolaterthan30days.Sincethen,myofficehasheardfromhundredsofresidentsonbothsidesoftheissue,andIhaveengagedinextensiveconversationwithmedicalexperts,includingdentists,doctors,andpublichealthleaders,aswellasparents.Miami-DadeCountyhasaddedfluoridetoourwatersince1958,followingalllocal,state,andfederalstandards.Majorpublichealthandmedicalorganizationsofexperthealthprofessionals,includingtheAmericanDentalAssociationandAmericanAcademyofPediatrics,recognizefluoridatingwateratlowlevelsasasafeandeffectivewayto
19VetoandVetoMessageApril11,2025Page2protectdentalhealth.Thewellbeingofourresidentsismytoppriorityasmayor,andthedecisiontocontinuefluoridatingourwaterisnotoneItakelightly.Anychangetothislongstandingpracticemustberootedinscientificconsensusandanunderstandingoftheshort-andlong-termconsequencesforourcommunity.Inlisteningcloselytoourresidentsandtotheexpertsoverthepastseveraldays,ithasbecomecleartomethatImustvetoResolutionNo.R-370-25forthereasonsoutlinedbelowinordertoprotectthehealthandwellbeingofourcommunity.Firstandforemost,thedecisiontoremovefluoridefromMiami-Dade'swaterignorestheguidanceofdentistsandmedicalexperts,whoareoverwhelminglytrustedbyourresidentsonthisissue.Earlierthisweek,Ihostedaroundtablediscussionwithdentistsandmedicalexpertswhoaffirmedfluoridation’ssignificantpositiveimpactonpreventingtoothdecayinbothchildrenandadults,aswellasthesafetyofaddingfluoridetoourwateratthecurrentlevel.Weknowthatrecentstudiesaboutthepotentialhealthimpactsofhighfluoridelevelshavecreatedconcerninourcommunity,especiallyforparents.However,Miami-DadeCounty'swatersupplycurrentlyhasafluoridelevelof0.7milligramsperliter,theamountrecommendedbymajorhealthorganizationsincludingtheAmericanDentalAssociation.Nostudyhasfoundthislevelharmful.Infact,studiesthathavehighlightedpotentialharmfuleffectsoffluoridetestedconcentrationsmanytimeshigherthanwhatisaddedtoourwater.Medicalexpertsalsostressthatthereareseriouspublichealthrisksofendingfluoridationthatgobeyonddentalcare.Removingfluoridewillhavelong-termconsequencesforchildren’shealth,especiallyforourmostvulnerablechildrenwholackaccesstoregulardentalandmedicalcare.Oralhealthiscloselylinkedtooverallphysicalhealth,andpoororalhealthraisestheriskofotherailmentsfromcardiovasculardiseasetodiabetes.Weknowfromothercommunitiesthathaveendedfluoridationthatchildrenfromlower-incomehouseholdsaremorelikelytosufferdentalemergencies-meaningmorechildrenwillmissdaysofschoolandhavetroubleconcentratingduetodentalpain,parentsmusttaketimeoffwork,andfamilieswhoarealreadystrugglingwillfaceadditionalfinancialstrain.Whileitmaybearelativelysimpleacttodiscontinuefluoridationasdirectedinthisresolution,thelong-termeffectsofdoingsoareanythingbutsimple.Endingfluoridationisacriticaldecisionwithlong-lastingconsequencesforourcommunity,anditisessentialthatwefullyanddeliberatelyconsidertherisks.Othercountiesandcitieshavemadethedecisiontoremovefluoridefromtheirwateronlytoadditbackinyearslater,atgreatexpensetotheircommunities’physicalandinsomecasesfinancialhealth.InnearbyPinellasCounty,fluoridewasreinstatedjusttwoyearsafteritsremovalin2011,followingpublicoutcry.InBuffalo,NewYork,cityofficialsrecentlyaddedfluoridebacktotheirwatersupplyfollowingaclassactionlawsuitfromresidentsthatcouldcostthecity$160million.InCalgary,thelargestcityintheCanadianprovinceofAlberta,officialsvotedtostopfluoridatingwaterin2011.Adecadelater,astudyshowedthatcavitiesamongchildrenhadincreaseddramatically,andvoterselectedtobringthefluorideback.
Veto and Veto Message
April 11 , 2025
Page 3
Resolution No. R-370-25 was passed following a hasty process that did not include a
committee hearing - where a full presentation on both sides of the issue could have
been made - and was only discussed on the dais the day the Commission voted to pass
it. It's vital that the public have an ample opportunity to understand and provide input on
a decision that will affect the lives of every resident in Miami-Dade County now and in
the future. I urge the Board to reconsider this decision in the coming days and weeks, to
ensure we are making the best possible decision for our community.
CLOSING
As not only Mayor but a mother and grandmother, I care deeply about protecting the
health, safety, and wellbeing of our community. Water fluoridation is upheld by dentists
and medical experts as a safe, effective, and efficient way to maintain dental health in
our county - and halting it could have long-term and wide-reaching health
consequences, especially for our most vulnerable families. I welcome continued and
balanced dialogue as we move forward to make the best decision on behalf of our
county's nearly three million residents. I urge the Board to sustain this veto, so that
we may continue building a safe and healthy Miami-Dade.
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